Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.24.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAccept Guidance Toward Pure Devotion
“The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, because of their pious nature, all the sons of Prācīnabarhi very seriously accepted the words of their father with heart and soul, and with these words on their heads, they went toward the west to execute their father’s order.”
What the purport teaches
- A perfect sādhu is always engaged in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The sons of Prācīnabarhi are called sādhavaḥ because of their complete obedience to their father.
- The father, king and spiritual master are supposed to represent the Supreme Lord. Their duty is to guide those under their care toward becoming fully unalloyed devotees.
- The Pracetās accepted their father’s words with heart and soul. Carrying his orders “on their heads” means accepting them in complete surrender.
Try this today
Choose one instruction you have received about devotional service and carefully put it into practice today.
Ask yourself
How sincerely do I accept guidance that leads me toward devotional service?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.